When I was in residency, I found the truth in the saying, “We’re All One Phone Call From Our Knees.” This was probably the hardest moment of my life so far. There is a reason that I view wealth and wellness as intrinsically linked. Today, you’ll find out why.

Please share!

Early on in the life of this website, I have posted about mental illness. Why? Because it is an important, not-discussed-enough, and poorly solved problem that has profound impacts in and out of medicine. Yet, despite my desire to make this a more publicly discussed topic, I was recently seen as making a mental health stigma of someone in my life.

Please share!

You think you know yourself, but you probably don’t. I certainly thought I knew Steve until Steve’s mom called. She was concerned he might commit suicide. As a third year med student, my biggest lesson of all came outside the hospital. If you are (or ever were) in medical school, please read: Med Student Suicide.

If we are to truly live out the “Do no harm” imperative, we must first make sure that we are not being harmed ourselves. After all, we cannot expect to replenish the empty cup of wellness our patients bring if our cup is empty, too.

I still remember exactly where I was when suicide first touched my life. I was in my second year of residency. I was sleeping. It was 2 am two days before Christmas when I received the call from my mom. I can’t explain why, but I knew immediately.